Pioneers Fall to Iona 6-5 in Extra Innings

Sunday, February 25

Norfolk, Va.

11 am

Sacred Heart

1-2

Iona

2-4

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	Runs R	Hits H	Errors E
Sacred Heart	0	0	0	2	3	0	0	0	0	0	5	9	1
Iona	1	4	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	6	11	3

Pioneers Fall to Iona 6-5 in Extra Innings

2/25/2018 12:00:00 AM | Baseball

Box Score

NORFOLK, Va.— The Sacred Heart University baseball team fell to Iona College 6-5 in extra innings on Sunday afternoon to close out its opening weekend. The Gaels (2-4) earned the walk-off sacrifice fly by Niko Switalia in the bottom of the 10^th inning as the Pioneers (1-2) were worked with the bases loaded with no outs at Marty L. Miller Field.

Iona got on the scoreboard first on a Sean Scales RBI single in the bottom of the first inning. The Gaels continued to hit in the second inning adding three more runs against junior Baylor Sundahl, who earned the start for SHU in the weekend finale.

The Pioneers offense got going in the top of the fourth inning as senior Dan Schock recorded a two-out single advancing co-captain PJ DeFilippo to second after leading off with a walk. Redshirt sophomore Jake Frasca pulled the 2-0 offering from Patrick Ryan through the left side to get SHU on the board at 5-1. Patience at the plate paid off for the Pioneers as co-captain Cody Doyle and sophomore Stephen Thibault worked back-to-back walks with Thibault earning the RBI with the bases loaded to prompt an Iona pitching change. Kyle Ackley got sophomore Elijah Brown to fly out to right field to end the inning.

Senior Anthony Capozziello led off the fifth inning with a triple to right field as SHU continued to fight back. After a DeFilippo walk, Capozziello scored on an errant throw by Tyler Bruno as Kyle Oliver reached first base. After sophomore Austin Markmann advanced both runners on the sacrifice bunt, Schock laced his third double of the weekend to deep centerfield to plate both base runners and tie the game at 5-5.

The Gaels threatened with the bases loaded in the bottom of the sixth inning but freshman Matt Aufiero recorded the big two-out strikeout to Brian Picone to end the frame. SHU had runners in scoring position in the top of the ninth inning as Capozziello recorded the one-out single then advanced to third on the stolen base and a throwing error by Stephen Furman. The Pioneers were unable to squeeze a run by Vinny Martin as he retired Oliver and Markmann to end the threat.

SHU left a runner in scoring position again in the top of the 10^th inning as Doyle recorded the two-out double down the left field line. Martin got Thibault to strike out swinging to end the inning.

Thomas Pinto came on in relief of Aufiero to open the bottom of the 10^th inning. Fran Kinsey opened the inning with a walk and advanced to second on a wild pitch. SHU made the call to Frasca on the mound but Iona drew runners on the corners as Sean Breen reached on a muffed throw at first base. Scales was intentionally walked to force an out at every base but Switalla lifted the line out to left center field, far enough to score Kinsey and end the game.

Schock's strong weekend offensively continued for SHU as he finished the day 3-for-5 with a double and two RBI's. Capozziello and Doyle contributed two hits apiece as the Pioneers recorded just nine hits on the day.

Sundahl earned three strikeouts in two and a third innings of work in the start for SHU. Junior Jackson Aldam pitched three and third innings of relief, allowing just three hits while striking out five. Aufiero pitched three and a third innings in his first collegiate appearance, striking out two to go along with just two hits.

The Pioneers will start off Spring Break with a three-game weekend down in Baton Rouge, La. Starting Friday, March 2 against Southeastern Louisiana at Alex Box Stadium